Dreambox

For other uses, see Dreambox (disambiguation).

The Dreambox is a series of Linux-powered DVB satellite, terrestrial and cable digital television receivers (set-top box), produced by German multimedia vendor Dream Multimedia.

History and Description

Enigma2, the Linux-based production software used by Dreambox was originally developed for DBox2, by the Tuxbox project. The Dbox2 was a proprietary design distributed by KirchMedia for their pay TV services. The bankruptcy of KirchMedia flooded the market with unsold boxes available for Linux enthusiasts. The Dreambox shares the basic design of the DBox2, including the Ethernet port and the PowerPC processor.

Its firmware is officially user-upgradable, since it is a Linux-based computer, as opposed to third-party "patching" of alternate receivers. All units support Dream's own DreamCrypt conditional access (CA) system, with software-emulated CA Modules (CAMs) available for many alternate CA systems. The built-in Ethernet interface allows networked computers to access the recordings on the internal hard disks on some Dreambox models. It also enables the receiver to store digital copies of DVB MPEG transport streams on Network file systems or broadcast the streams as IPTV to VideoLAN and XBMC Media Center clients. Unlike many PC based PVR systems that use free-to-air type of DVB receiver cards, the built-in conditional access allows receiving and storing encrypted content.

In 2007, Dream Multimedia also introduced a non-Linux based Dreambox receiver, the DM100, their sole to date, running on unspecified hardware, but still featuring an Ethernet port and a USB port.^[1] The speed of the USB port is not specified, the manufacturer only says it is of B type, the one found on peripherals connected to PCs.

Dreambox Models

There have been a number of different models of Dreambox available. The numbers are suffixed with -S for Satellite, -T for Terrestrial and -C for Cable:

Table

DM	7000	56x0	500(+)	500HD	600	7020	7020HD[2]	7025(+)	800HD	800HD se	8000	100
Production	Dis- continued	Dis- continued	500+ avail.	Available	Available	Available	Available	7025+ avail.	Available	Available	Available	Available
Life cycle	2003–	2003-	2006–	2010–	2007–	2005–	2011-	2011–	2008–	2010-	2009–	2007–
SoC	STB04500	STB04500	STBx25xx	BCM7405	STBx25xx	STB04500	BCM7405	Xilleon 226	BCM7401	BCM7405	BCM7400	ST510x
CPU type	PPC	PPC	PPC	MIPS	PPC	PPC	MIPS	MIPS	MIPS	MIPS	MIPS	?
CPU (MHz)	252	252	252	400	252	252	400	300	300	400	400	?
RAM (MiB)	64	64	32 (96)	256	96	96	512	128	256	256	256	256
Flash (MiB)	8	8	8 (32)	64	32	32	1024	32	64	64	128	64
Flash type	NOR	NOR	NOR (NAND)	NAND	NAND	NAND	NAND	NAND	NAND	NAND	NAND	?
Default OS	Enigma1	Enigma1	Enigma1	Enigma2	Enigma1 Enigma2 (beta)	Enigma1 Enigma2 (beta)	Enigma2	Enigma2	Enigma2	Enigma2	Enigma2	ST OS
DVB	1 × S	1 × S	1 × S/C/T	1 × S2	1 × S/C/T	1 × S	1 × S2 (in total 2x DVB-S/C/T optional)	2 × S/C/T	S+S2/C/T	1 × S/C/T	2 × S+S2 (2 × S/C/T optional)	1 × S
HDTV	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Common Interface	1	2	0	0	0	1	2	1	0	0	4	0
CompactFlash	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	Yes	0
Smart card	2	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	1	2	2	1
USB	1 x 1.1	No	No	No	No	1 x 1.1	3 x 2.0 + 1 x Service Mini-USB	1 x 1.1	2 x 2.0	2 x 2.0 + 1 x Service Mini-USB	3 x 2.0	1 x 1.1
RS232	Yes	No	Yes	MiniUSB	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
LAN (Mbit/s)	100	100 (DM5620)	100	100	100	100	10/100	100	100	100	100	100
HDD	3.5 in	No	No	eSATA	2.5 in	3.5 in	3.5 in + eSATA	3.5 in	2.5 in, eSATA	2.5 in, eSATA	3.5 in and DVD	No
ATA	parallel	No	No	serial	parallel	parallel	serial	parallel	serial	serial	serial	No
RF mod.	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
SCART	2	2	1	1	1	2	2	2	1	1	2	1
HDMI / HDCP	0 / -	0 / -	0 / -	1 / -	0 / -	0 / -	1 / -	0 / -	0 / -	1 / -	0 / -	0 / -
DVI	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1**	0	1**	0
Display	LCD	LCD	No	No	No	LCD	OLED	OLED	OLED	multi-colour OLED	OLED	No
LNB pass-thru	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
S/PDIF Optical	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes +RCA	No
Modem	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Other connectors					S-Video						Component

• **HDMI via DVI to HDMI adapter.

DM 7000 (discontinued)

DM 7000-S

The DM 7000 is based around the IBM STB04500 controller, featuring a PowerPC processor subsystem and hardware MPEG decoding, has 64 MiB of RAM, 8 MiB of NOR flash memory (directly executable), a Common Interface slot, a dual smart card reader, a CompactFlash card reader, a USB 1.1 port, and an IDE (also known as PATA) interface for attaching an internal 3.5 in hard disk drive to convert the unit into a digital video recorder. Accepts only 230 V AC power.^[3]

Because the boot loader resides in flash memory, this model may require the use of a JTAG in case of bad flashing which destroyed the boot loader. However, a bad flash will occur under rare scenarios, and rarely, almost never, will you need a JTAG.

DM 5600, DM 5620 (discontinued)

DM 5620

There was a DM 5600 and also a DM 5620 model. The only difference being that the DM 5620 included an Ethernet port. Otherwise, the DM 56X0 models were a cut down version of the DM 7000 without an IDE interface. They did, however, include an RF modulator allowing them to be used with older TVs that lack a SCART connector.

DM 500 (discontinued), DM 500+, DM500HD

DM 500

The DM500 is the successor to the DM5620 and is the smallest and cheapest Dreambox. It is based around an IBM STBx25xx Digital Set-Top Box Integrated Controller, featuring notably a 252 MHz PowerPC processor subsystem, hardware MPEG-2 video and audio decoding and smart card interfaces. The DM500 features 32 MiB of RAM and an unspecified amount of flash memory, probably 8 MB, given that firmware images are about 5 MiB. It has the standard features of a free-to-air (FTA) satellite receiver, plus extensive Fast Ethernet networking connectivity and a single smart card reader. It does not feature a 7-segment LED display, normally found in other FTA decoders.

Also has the ability to be used on Digital satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcasts (also known as DVB-S, DVB-C, DVB-T).

The DM500+ model has 96 MiB of RAM instead of 32, and 32 MiB of NAND flash instead of 8 MiB of NOR flash. This makes it similar to the DM600 PVR model. It is only available in DVB-S versions.

The new DM500HD was announced in Cologne on May 26, 2009. The price will be between €350 and €400.

DM 7020

The DM 7020 is essentially an updated DM 7000 with 96 MiB of RAM, 32 MiB of NAND flash (disk-like) and an RF modulator. Changes were also made on the software side, utilizing Open Embedded for the base Linux operating system.

Because the flash memory of this model is not directly executable, the primary boot loader resides in ROM and can recover corrupted secondary boot loader in flash by loading from the serial port.

There are some Enigma2 (beta) images already available for this model.

DM 7025, DM 7025+

The DM 7025 is similar to the DM7020 but with the ability to add a second "snap-in" tuner that makes it possible to watch one program while recording another. It is possible to change the tuner module, selecting between any two of Satellite, Terrestrial or Cable versions.

Internally, it features a Xilleon 226 system-on-a-chip from ATI, integrating a 300 MHz MIPS CPU core instead of the traditional PowerPC found in other models, and has 128 MiB of RAM. It uses Enigma2, this is a complete rewrite of the original Enigma GUI, and is still going through growing pains as features that were present in Enigma are added to Enigma2. Enigma2 is Python-based instead of C code.

The DM 7025 has the ability to decode MPEG-2 HD as well. Unfortunately, it must downconvert this to 480i or 576i to display it. The DM 7025+ model features an Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display instead of an LCD one, an eject button on the Common Interface slot and improved power supply.

DM 600 PVR

The DM 600 PVR is the same small size as the DM 500 but includes an IDE interface allowing to add an internal 2.5 in laptop-type hard disk drive, the box will only recognise 5600rpm drives. On the outside it adds an S-Video output connector and an analog modem port. It is built around the same IBM STBx25xx integrated controller, but features 32 MiB of flash and 96 MiB of RAM, of which 64 MiB are user-accessible. It is possible to change the tuner module, selecting between Satellite, Terrestrial and Cable versions. There is still just one SCART connector and no 7-segment LED display, just 2 status LEDs. The provided remote control unit is the same one supplied with the 7000, 7020 and 7025 and allows one to control the TV set as well.

DM 800HD / DM 800HD SE PVR

This is essentially a high definition version of the DM 600 PVR, featuring a single pluggable DVB tuner (S/S2, C or T), a 300 MHz MIPS processor, 64 MiB of Flash memory, 256 MiB of RAM and room for an internal SATA 2.5 in disk. It also features one DVI to HDMi Cable, two USB 2.0, one eSATA and one 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet interfaces. It has an OLED display.

DM 800HD SE was introduced in late 2010. The main differences of the DM800HD SE compared to the DM 800HD are a 400 MHz MIPS processor, a HDMI connector and a color OLED display.

DM 8000 HD PVR

DM 8000 HD PVR

This is the high definition PVR. Like the DM-7025, it supports pluggable tuner modules. In addition to High Definition, it has an upgrade for a DVD drive (slot in). And it has USB 2.0. Physically on the box it has one DVI-port, but with the supplied DVI to HDMi Cable you get HDMI video.

Originally announced to become available in the beginning of 2007, its release date was pushed back. The product then began shipping on 12.12.2008.^[4] The planned features were revised as well. Originally, this model was supposed to have 128 MiB of RAM (now 256), 32 MiB of flash (now 256 MiB) and a 300 MHz processor (now 400 MHz Broadcom 7400).^[5] Other Linux-based HD receivers became available in the meantime.^{[citation needed]}

Alternative firmware and plug-ins

The factory-installed distribution on the Dreambox is mostly available under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and uses standard Linux API's, including Linux DVB API and Linux Infrared Remote Control (LIRC). Several models (7025, 800 and 8000) use GStreamer as a multimedia framework. This configuration encourages enthusiasts to modify its functions, particularly in the form of so-called images.

Plug-ins

There are also many 3rd party addons & plugins available that will extend the functionality of the Dreambox too. Some plugins are model specific, while others run all boxes. Plugins such as Jukebox and SHOUTcast playback, also external XMLTV guides, a web browser are available, and a VLC media player interface for on demand streaming media. Games are also abundant like Pac-Man and Tetris.

In addition, unofficial third-party conditional access software modules (CAMs or emulators) are widely circulated on the Internet that emulate the CA systems developed by NDS (VideoGuard), Irdeto, Conax, Nagravision, Viaccess and other proprietary vendors. Some Dreambox owners use these softcams in conjunction with card sharing software to access pay TV services without a subscription card inserted in every connected box. This practice may be illegal in some jurisdictions and third-party software for this purpose is neither officially endorsed nor supported by Dream Multimedia and voids the official warranty.

Clones

Clones of the DM500-S are wide spread^[6] . As a result, Dream Multimedia introduced the DM500+, with changes to try to prevent further counterfeiting.

Clones also exist of DM500 and DM800, built around the same commodity IBM SoC chip and hence having identical or slightly superior features but not sold under the Dreambox brand name (e.g., the Envision 500S, with 48 megabytes of RAM instead of 32, also available in a 500C cable version, the Eagle box or the Linbox 5558). They have a retail price approaching the one of non-Linux receivers, generally a fraction of the Dreambox 500 price. Since they contain a copy of the copyrighted original DM500 bootloader program, the legality of these devices is questionable.

In April 2008, Dream Multimedia allegedly introduced a time bomb into their latest flash to disable the boot loader on counterfeit models. An unofficial firmware group called Gemini who used the latest flash drivers in their firmware, found that flash corruption would be caused on clone DM500-S receivers. Other developers of unofficial firmware groups would find boxes to be affected by this if they use the latest drivers, providing another time bomb is to be introduced.

See also

• DBox2
• Slingbox
• Vu+
• TV2Me - the original placeshifting device, developed by Ken Schaffer
• LocationFree Player
• HDHomeRun
• Monsoon HAVA
• Hauppauge MediaMVP - another connected device based on the IBM STB02500 chip
• Home theater PC
• Moxi
• Telly (home entertainment server)

References

1. ^ Dream-Multimedia-Tv GmbH
2. ^ http://www.avforums.com/forums/satellite-tv/1237437-new-dreambox-dm7020hd-twin-dvb-s2-enigma2.html
3. ^ In order to use model DM 7000 within North America, a stepup transformer is needed to run the Dreambox on 230 V. This is the only model Dreambox that requires this when used in North America.
4. ^ http://www.dream-multimedia-tv.de/english/news.php Release of DM8000
5. ^ http://www.dream-multimedia-tv.de/english/products_dm8000_technical.php DM8000 technical data
6. ^ http://www.dream-multimedia-tv.de/english/dm500_copy_eng.php

External links

• Dream Multimedia GmbH
• Dreambox Update
• I have a dreambox IhaD
• Linux DVB API
• Codeproject Open Source FTP Downloader for Dreambox